Anyone Carrying Glock 42?

[Climb14er]

I carry a Sig P365 most of the time. Glock 19 and 1911 Lightweight CCO .45 ACP as well. While fast walking and previously running, I carry a NAA .22 Mini Magnum in an IWB. Lightweight and last up close resort.

Any experiences with Glock 42 for close in self defense? Are you finding saving six ounces if you also have an Sig P365 or four ounces Glock 43 reasonable?

I’ve had it with the crime here in Denver! Guy nearby yesterday , got his Porsche 2020 Macan Turbo carjacked, three Afro criminals, guns on the perps threatening to kill him. The crime here in Denver has gone too far.

Thinking I might need a lightweight .380 while exercising. Thoughts?

 

[trackskippy]

I had a 42 and 43 when they first came out. They convinced me that the 26 was the better choice there.

The 26 is only a tad fatter, but so much more gun.

 

[WrongHanded]

I have a G42. When I carry it, I load it with Underwood 65(?)gr Xtreme Defender +P ammo. Pocket carry, or AIWB with a Vedder holster. Though when I carry it, it's mostly as a backup to something bigger. And the only times it has been a primary were in the relatively safe location of my workplace, or at home in my jim-jams close by to a 10mm and a 12ga.

But the G42 has been reliable at the range. My wife limp wristed it exactly once with that Underwood ammo, and that's the only failure thus far in several hundred rounds.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I used to pocket carry a G42 but it's been retired in lieu of pocket carrying a G43.

When I carried the G42 my carry ammo was Hornady factory loaded XTP.

If I were to carry it again I'd load it with Underwood XTP +P. I tried Underwood XD but encountered failure to feed stoppages.

 

[Obturation]

I got a g42 about a month after release. I carry it pretty regularly but typically as a back up. It's been a great little gun, can't remember a single malfunction .

The appeal over 9mm is the reduced recoil and blast. Not that 9mm is hard to handle but I can dump those 380s out with no issue at all. It just big enough to shoot well but small enough to fit anywhere. Mines been in the ocean a couple times, a couple pajama parties and tucked in my waist band when I don't think I could conceal anything bigger.

380 isn't ideal but it's the best little gun cartridge. I don't own a 9mm and don't plan to ever get one, I carry underwoods loading of extreme penetrator and it runs well. Only hits count, 44 mag to the pinky toe isn't going to stop much but a couple 380s in the mouth will get the job done.

I recommend the g42 without hesitation.

 

[thewillweeks]

I had a 42 and 43 when they first came out. They convinced me that the 26 was the better choice there.

The 26 is only a tad fatter, but so much more gun.

My same conclusion after having both a 43 and 26. When I can have a PCC, a full size, a sub compact and a braced pistol all with Sig365 mags then I'll look closer at it.
Don't fix things till they're broke. Sometimes what works works for a reason.

 

[weisse52]

I have carried a G19, G26, G43 and now a G42

I can easily pocket carry the 42 and for the place I live I am comfortable with that pistol. Light enough and small enough to always have with me without even having to think about it no matter what I am wearing. I have carried a J frame in my pocket for years. I recently swapped back to a G42 due to the ability to put the sights I like on it. (Aging eyes)

The discussion of “it’s only a bit bigger” can be used right up to the point you’re carrying a G34.
I have gotten rid of anything between the G42 and G17. (Glock only discussion).

I can and do carry a G17 and feel comfortable. It’s all about what is comfortable for you.

 

[Tallball]

I carry a small 380 sometimes, when I can't really carry anything else. In my mind it's plenty enough for a would-be mugger.

When I walk my dogs, I have no wallet or money. I don't wear a watch, even. There is no rational reason to try to mug or assault me. I still have a 38 in my pocket, just to be sure, but there's little need.

If I were driving around in a Porsche, that would be a totally different situation. Of course some guy or guys would want to carjack me. The car is worth a lot of money. Duh.

Not making yourself an obvious target is even more important than being armed, IMHO.

 

[Climb14er]

The reason I posted about the Glock 42 is to find out if folks… exercise, run, walk with it. This is usually done in a large quiet cemetery nearby that has many isolated areas to it. I carry the NAA MiniMag for that purpose now, it’s very lightweight … while pounding miles to keep in shape. For regular carry, it’s the 9mm or the .45ACP. If the G42 is still too heavy while exercising, I’ll stick with the .22Mag.

Side note… this is a very nice neighborhood the Carjacking took place in. In the guy’s driveway. The perps followed him. Yes, the victim should have driven to the police station. Denver has become complacent and many are in denial or are not aware. These blue fools voted for the coddling and appeasing politicians. They have decriminalized crime! And yes, we are very open to leaving this once great cow town that has become a woke dump hole.

 

[bannockburn]

Started carrying a KelTec P3AT for when I was working in the back 40 (use to live on a cul-de-sac in a semi-rural development), as well as for nightly dog walks for coyote protection. Thought about the Glock G42 but went with the notion that more is better, especially when it comes to a .380, and went with a Ruger LCP MAX instead. The LCP MAX is shorter in length and lighter in weight than the G42 and holds 4 more rounds. It's a true pocket pistol that rides very comfortably in my front pant's pocket or else in an IWB holster.

 

[WYO]

I posted some thoughts on the Glock 42 on another forum a couple of days ago. https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/g...9mm-380-analysis.1964368/page-7#post-31769165 I also discussed the LCP Max and the Sig P365-380 in contrast to the standard P365 9mm. For someone already familiar with the P365 9mm platform, the P365-380 may be a viable upgrade from the Glock 42 at a cost of an additional 3 ounces. I certainly can walk fast with either the Glock 42 or the Sig P365-380 in a front jeans pocket. I don't know about running. BTW, I have an Alabama pocket holster for both. The holster for the P365-380 uses a different mold than the 9mm P365.

 

[jstert]

i have been jogging regularly with a naa bugout1 22lr in a fanny pack. lately i’ve become more clumsy handling it (yup getting older sometimes sucks, the price of a pension and no alarm clock i suppose). the glock 42 just doesn’t fit my hand as i would like, so my deep ccw is a keltec p32 with an extra ten-round extended mag too. it’s reliable, comfortable, accurate and viable. the p32 is way easier to shoot than a naa guardian 32acp. every 380acp pocket pistol ought to be offered in 32acp too.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Have, and love, the P365, but the G42 is just that much smaller, flatter, and lighter. It shoots really straight, works all the time, and fires a meaningful caliber.
Are you better armed with a P365? Certainly. IMHO, there's a small to large progression for pocket pistols, starting with the single stack LCP, then the G42, and finally the P365. The G42 makes a superb, minimalist defensive arm, with great sights, reliability, and the ability to tolerate a lot of shooting, in practice. This last is the weakness of the LCPs; they are unpleasant to shoot, and I'm really not convinced they tolerate a ton of shooting.
Get a G42 with confidence.
Moon

 

[defjon]

I looked really hard at one, and kick myself for not grabbing the one for 350 I happened on this June.

Went lcp custom. Reason being. I needed smaller and lighter than a j frame. A g42 really isn't. Handgun hero shows its so dang close to a p365 etc..and there's a massive power and capacity upgrade there.

If I'm gonna have under 10 380 rounds I'll go for the smaller that really does carry easier. There is an lcp max custom now.

The custom trigger is an upgrade in my experience. The guide rod is stainless steel. I was shocked how easy shooting the lcp is. I could easily shoot as many boxes of 380 as I could afford to. My wallet would wear out before my wrist or the gun...

 

[JeffG]

I carry a Sig P365 most of the time. Glock 19 and 1911 Lightweight CCO .45 ACP as well. While fast walking and previously running, I carry a NAA .22 Mini Magnum in an IWB. Lightweight and last up close resort.

Any experiences with Glock 42 for close in self defense? Are you finding saving six ounces if you also have an Sig P365 or four ounces Glock 43 reasonable?

I’ve had it with the crime here in Denver! Guy nearby yesterday , got his Porsche 2020 Macan Turbo carjacked, three Afro criminals, guns on the perps threatening to kill him. The crime here in Denver has gone too far.

Thinking I might need a lightweight .380 while exercising. Thoughts?

I went directly from a 42 to a 43, mostly due to FTF stoppages. Six ounces is not a worthwhile savings for me. Carry an extra mag, also.

 

[Pistolay]

My experience with the G42 (I've owned 2) is that it's very soft shooting and very accurate, but very intolerant of limpwristing. As my wrist and thumb deteriorated from arthritis, the 42 became less and less reliable. When I finally got rid of my second one, I couldn't go 2 rounds without an FTE unless I used the old Dirty Harry grip where you hold your wrist with your support hand. I now own 2 P365-380s which are close to the same size as the g42, but I have no limpwristing problems.

 

[Tallball]

I have 380's in various sizes: large, medium, and small. The only ones I carry are the small LCP types. Once you move up to medium-sized 380's, there's generally something better you can carry that's the same size.

I prefer the LCPII due to the very good trigger. I carry it in the breast pocket of an overshirt or the back pocket of slacks sometimes when I go walking.

My hands are XXL and I've been shooting micro 380's for years. It's not like shooting a target revolver, but if you're careful with your hand and finger placement, it doesn't have to hurt. Even with my mediocre shootings skills, I have no problem getting good SD accuracy with one. It just takes some practice.

Ruger LCPII 380acp

• Tallball
• Aug 3, 2018

 

[tactikel]

My SIL carried a G42 for for 3 years, when the G43 came out he swapped it out. Ammo more powerful, cheaper, easily found.

 

[SDGlock23]

The G42 is a really good shooter, it's small but shoots like a larger gun. That said, the LCP MAX is smaller, lighter, holds more rounds and actually shoots pretty darn well as the trigger is quite decent for such a small gun, so I could hit 25yd poppers with it as it has usable sights. I'm a huge Glock fan but Ruger really nailed it with the LCP Max, can even get 12rd mags for it now from Ruger.

https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/glock-g42-vs-ruger-lcp-max

 

[zaitcev]

Are you finding saving six ounces if you also have an Sig P365 or four ounces Glock 43 reasonable?

The bottom line: the answer depends on the carry system. I found that the difference immaterial when OWB, but pronounced in less conventional methods, like semi-off-body (sling or murse), fanny pack, or pocket.

I keep coming to the idea of jettisoning G42 and just go all in with P365, but these corner cases always come in the play and preclude it. I don't think I would use G42 if I were on P365 originally. I'd go a size smaller and get a Ruger LCP MAX.

 

[LeftyRed]

I carry a 42 at times. It’s reliable and I like hitting what I shoot at. Probably the last semi I will ever part with.

Lefty

 

[zaitcev]

I now own 2 P365-380s which are close to the same size as the g42, but I have no limpwristing problems.

Chris Baker disagrees (skip the video to 04:30 where he discusses the issue):

 

[Pistolay]

Chris Baker disagrees (skip the video to 04:30 where he discusses the issue):

I watched that video, and what I saw was a guy deliberately trying to get the gun to fail by barely holding onto it. And he did. All that proves is that you can make a gun fail if you really try, which is no real surprise for most guns.

OTOH, I'm actually living the dream. I've had a CMC thumb arthroscopy on my shooting hand along with severe wrist arthritis on the same side, and I'm in the early stages of CMC thumb arthritis on my support hand. I shoot both of my P365-380s reliably, although I admit that I'm not trying to make them fail. I can't shoot the G42 at all. With any normal grip, I have almost a 100% failure rate. The only way I can shoot the Glock reliably is by using the old Dirty Harry grip.

 

[jeepnik]

I'm sure I'll catch hell for this but here goes. I carry a large variety of different handguns. I simply look in the safe in the morning and pick out what strikes my fancy. Among those are two G42's. One is my wifes, one mine. Actually hers was mine until she decided it was hers.

The 42 is light and easy to carry. It carries enough rounds and is of a caliber I am comfortable with. Mine, and the wife's have always gone bang. There are likely capable of much more accuracy than I am these days. Some days it's primary, some days backup.

I will say I'm a holster guy. I don't pocket carry anything. My primary is, with a few minor exceptions, always OWB crossdraw.

 

[unclenunzie]

Thinking I might need a lightweight .380 while exercising. Thoughts?

My LCP MAX loaded with 11 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense weighs just under 14 ounces. By contrast Glock says the 42 weighs just under 16 ounces with a loaded 6-round mag. Glock does give you a longer barrel (3.25) vs the MAX (2.8) so there's that trade-off.

I personally have found the MAX to shoot well enough (in fact it was kind of remarkable being so small). While I do not own the 42, if they made a "42x" with 10 rounds I am pretty sure I would have bought one instead of the MAX.

The MAX has a good combination of reliability (so far), capacity, accuracy in pocket-gun context. The downside is the build quality. Low grade finish, loose barrel/slide/frame fit. Only one mag comes with it, and the mags are kind of cheaply made. Still I carry it when the situation calls for greater concealment in an auto, I have found it very handy IWB with 12 round mags. Pocket with 10 round.